Resilient wheel.



Mis. KNIGHT. RESILIENVT` WHEEL. APPLICATION TILE'D APR. 2, 1910.

Patente@ Jan. .23, 1912.

l r s'rn'r s, AENT onirica. ,i

MARGARET n. KNIGHT, or" FnAniNGHaM, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNon or ONE- FOURTH F. DAVIDSON .ANIDl ONE-FOURTH BOTH OF SARATG-A SPRINGS, NEW YORK.' l

T O BEATRICE '-M. Y DAVIDSON,

nnsrtInN'T WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ylatenten aan. 23,1912;

Application led April 1910. Serial No. 552,997.

and the support of the inner ends of the spokes of the wheel, and there held in such position that they willfpermit the Wheel, that is to say, the rim, spokes and cylinder provided with the sockets for the inner ends of the spokes, to move with a resilient act-ion to and from the axle in a radial direction,

or diametrically when considered in relation" to the whole wheel; in other words, it is a wheel with a resilient hub which will give the ease of motion of pneumatic tires, and obviate the necessity ofthe-ir use, or greatly supplements the action of such tires if used in connection with these improved resilient devices.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side'elevation of 'the wheel embodying my improvements with one half shown in section andpartly broken away; Fig. 2 is a. front or edge view, in diametrical section, on line 2-2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a sprin 4retaining ring; Fig. 4 is an elevation o the link by which the hub is yieldingly connected to a disk flange keyed to the shaft; Fig. 5 is a detail taken from the lower side of the axlefljig. 2, showing the spring supporting sleeves, without the annular flanges at their ends.

Referring to the several yparts of the wheel, illustrated in the drawings, by letters, A is therim; B the spokes; C a cylinder containing the spoke sockets D, surrounding the hub; X the axle; E the axle-box; F the cylindrical sleeve fitting upon the axle-box; G the coaxial sleeve of larger diameter surrounding the axle box sleeve F the series of springs held between the sleeves F, G; as illustrated, the springs are arranged in rows of three, yparallel with the raxis and eight such rows at regular intervals around the hub in the'space betwee'n the two sleeves. This number and arrangement is satisfactory for usual conditions, but can be varied to suit circumstances. These springs are secured to the laxle box sleeve F at their inner ends by screws I, and for convenience' y the outer ends ofthe springs are retained in countersunkfholes lo in a ring K, which fits'l closely within the coaxial sleeve G.

In Fig. 52, L, l', are annular flanges cured to t-he respective ends of the sleeves F, G, when desired, as they serve to aid inv keeping out dust; but these' flanges maybe omitted as shown in Figi 5. M is a disk flange upon the axle X at the inner side of the wheel, and when the driving power 1s applied 4to the axle, the disk M is keyed to the axle; and to cause the wheel to turn with the axle the spoke-socket ring C is connected to the disk M 'by means of two crank-like links N, one projecting end, n of each of which engages a hole in the disk M, and the other projecting end, n2 of each engages a hole in the cylinder C, thus compelling thecylinder C and connected parts of the wheel to turn with the disk M, but at .the same time permitting the diametrical movement of the wheel in relation to the axle substantially at all times, due to the resilient action of the springs H. Another disk 0 is screwed upon the outer end of the axle and bears against the outer ends of the cylinder C and sleeves F, G or the flanges secured ihereto, thus holding them andthe other in erior parts of the hub in proper posit-ion, each in relation toh the others.

It will be-observed that the spoke-socket cylinder C with the spokes and rim form a rigid axle-box E, by the interposed sleeves .F,.Q, and springs H, the whole being held in place between and guided by the disks M, O. The springs H should be made suiiciently stiff to normally suppirt the weight of the' vehicle, and a customary load without compressing the springs,"but whenever an excess of pressure is put upon the springs by the jolting caused by anuneven road, the springs below the axle will be compressed and those above the axle distended, and thus by their resilient action permit the rings and sleeves between the disks M, C, to move wheel which is supported upon ,the

up' and down, guided thereby in lines at 105 right angles to the axle, giving an ease of motion equal.l if not superior, to that of pneumatic tire.

Whenever itl is' desired t9 .v mgve the' sleeves and springs, it is only lnecessary to vjack up the axle and rei'riove the outer disk .0, when the sleeves withth'e springs may be ing the coaxial sleeve, a series of spiralsprings Within said space secured at their innerends to saidC axle box sleeve, and a spring retaining lring for the buter ends of said springs fitting within. said coaxial sleeve and provided with h oles countersunk on its outer surface through which the outer ends of the springs pass and are retained in the countersunk depressions.

'ionies `o1 this patent may be obtained for, ve cents each, by addressing the i Washington, D. C.

' 2. In a resilient Wheel having an axle-box normally free to turnv upon the axle, a pair of coaxial sleeves ofdiierent diameters encompa'ssing the axle-box and normally free to turn therewith, a spring retainingring fitting Within the outer sleeve, springs interposed between the two sleeves and attached pair of crank-links, the opposite ends' ofwhich are journaled respectively in said inner disk and in the spoke-socket cylinder.

MARGARET E. KNIGHT.- f y lVitnesses: l

DAVID C. AHEARN, WALTER ADAMS.

Commissioner of Patents, 

